Pleasing 4 Pets

Heartless pet owners have thrown nine rabbits from a car window into the New Forest in Southern England.

A member of the public saw the rabbits being thrown from the silver car in Bartley and was able to rescue 7 of the 9 rabbits, and notified the RSPCA.

The animal welfare charity are concerned the cruel pet owners many have more animals entrusted to their care.

Fears have now been raised that the uncaring pet owners may have other animals in their care.

The car is thought to be a Vauxhall Astra or a Ford Escort.

An inspector from the RSPCA said:-

This was a heartless and brutal act and it is lucky that the animals were not badly injured.

We are concerned that whoever is responsible may have other animals in their care and I would urge anyone with any information about this incident or who recognises the car involved to contact us so we can prevent further animals from suffering.

Many people think domestic rabbits can survive in the wild but they would be very easy targets for foxes and would not have lasted long.”

Six of the 7 rabbits rescued suffered cuts and bruises but unfortunately vets were forced to out the 7th rabbit down due to the extent of its injuries.

Local police officers in the market town of Arundel in the South Downs of West Sussex have been left bewildered after a finding a series of abandoned pets left in a country lane on the fringes of the town.

So, far a total of five pedigree rabbits and two dogs have been found abandoned in the country lane which leads to the neighbouring town of Burpham, just before the junction at the A27, close to the railway station at Arundel.

The latest animal to be found was a Staffordshire bull terrier puppy which was thought to be around 3 months old. The puppy, wearing a blue coloured collar was discovered roaming the lane alone and in the darkness. Local police confirmed that the puppy was very fortunate not to have been hit by a car in the lane.

In October, five rabbits were found abandoned at the same spot, but unfortunately had to be put down by a local vet after it was discovered that the bunnies had contracted myxomatosis from wild rabbits.

Shortly before that an elderly dog was discovered roaming the same stretch of road, but has since be re-homed with a local family.

Community police officer Lorraine Dixon confirmed that the Staffordshire bull terrier puppy found in the lane was being cared for at the Carleton Kennels in Ford, and that attempts to re-home the animal would begin shortly. She said:-

“He is lucky to have survived. A couple from Warningcamp saw him in the road after the vehicle in front of them swerved to avoid him. He was handed over to the Arun dog wardens, who checked the area, but no one living round there owns the puppy.

Now there have been three cases like this, we are asking people to keep a look-out in that lane and to contact the police if they see anything suspicious”.

A leading UK veterinary charity, the PDSA which has been running for some 91 years, has revealed huge increased in the number of rabbits diagnosed with myxomatosis over the past 12 month period.

Myxomatosis is a disease which can often be fatal to pet rabbits, and PetAid animal hospitals in the South East and the west Midlands have reported dramatic rises in the numbers of cases being presented at facilities there, whilst similar facilities in both Hull and Romford have reported a massive 300% surge in the numbers of cases of the disease.

Myxomatosis can be spread amongst a rabbit population by flies or fleas that bite as well as by contact with other infected rabbits.

Symptoms of the disease include lethargy, lack of appetite and inflammation of the rabbit’s eyelids, head and genitals.

Sean Wensley, a PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon offered advice to worried rabbit owners, saying:-

“The effects of the myxomatosis virus are very distressing to witness and are usually fatal. By the time clinical signs have developed, such as facial and genital swelling, it is often too late to be able to help affected rabbits.

Myxomatosis is preventable through vaccination and protecting pet rabbits from disease and suffering should be a priority. I strongly advise owners to ask their vet about vaccinations, as well as how to minimise numbers of biting insects.

PDSA is drawing attention to these outbreaks because rabbit owners should be aware that myxomatosis is present and can cause terrible suffering if rabbits are not protected from the disease.”

He concluded there was presently no proof of a countrywide pandemic or of the disease being transmitted to any other species of animal.